Stay

eight.

Three weeks.

It'd been three weeks since that infamous night by the fire with Warith Al Ghul. Aaliyah recalled an extensive amount of tears and how his strong arms held up her shaking frame. He said nothing to comfort her, not that she expected such. He simply allowed her to hold onto him and for that she was grateful. However, that was the last thing she remembered because the next morning she woke up in her bed.

He was nowhere to be found.

She asked Ta-er al-sahfer how she'd gotten there. She knew the answer, but wanted to see if he mentioned something to her.

The blonde hadn't even known he came for her.

After that, she didn't ask about him.

A small part of her was upset with him for what he'd done. She knew he was purposely upsetting her, but for what reason? He claimed he was trying to open her eyes, but that was nothing but lies. He was playing games with her. For what purpose, though.

That was what she wanted know.

He made sure she had everything she needed, materialistic things, but he was refusing to share his end game. She was growing frustrated with that. She'd been patient long enough, and she was tired of taking two steps forward, only to have him bring them ten steps back.

It was beyond redundant.

The first week was the hardest. Not because she missed him. She didn't. But because his words left her reliving all of her losses. Samirah noticed the change in mood. Nadura noticed. Even Ta-er al-sahfer noticed. She eased their concern by admitting she was missing her family, which wasn't a lie. She was missing them, deeply. She just neglected to share what brought on these feelings.

Or who.

The second week was significantly better. She didn't allow herself to wallow in pity and sadness. She kept busy. From sketching anything and everything she thought of, to going out into the village with Nadura (accompanied by Ta-er al-sahfer and three other league members, of course) to even alternating her training sessions with her personal guard and Al Jundi. Thoughts of the man who unnerved her were minimum.

Now she was in her third week, and things were slightly different. She'd gone through grief (first week), denial (second week), but now she was feeling something different. Something that was uncommon for her. Something she hadn't felt so strongly since her sister's murder.

Anger.

Ironically, she was being held in a compound run on that very same emotion.

"Damn." Ta-er al-sahfer grunted when Aaliyah managed to hit her with her staff. The weapon immediately became Aaliyah's favorite choice of protection after just one training session with the blonde.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" Aaliyah asked when Ta-er al-sahfer stopped to stretch, leaning from side to side.

She laughed. "I don't think you could if you tried. You are getting better though."

Aaliyah panted. "Really?"

Ta-er al-sahfer nodded. "Most people, actual league initiates, don't catch on as fast you have."

"Well I am not most people." She testily shot back, but sighed when she saw the blonde quip her brow. "I am sorry. I am....not myself this week."

"You've not been yourself for a few weeks now. Everything okay?" Aaliyah declined to comment so she added on. "I'm guessing it has something to do with Warith Al Ghul." Her head snapped up at his name and she mentally cursed, upset she'd so easily given away the source of her aggression. "And my guess would be correct." Silence. "Can I give you a little bit of advice?"